Screening methods and sequences relating thereto

ABSTRACT

Disclosed are screening methods and sequences related thereto. Disclosed are methods for detecting mutations in the MYH gene of an individual. Also disclosed are methods of genotyping and methods of predicting for an individual the likelihood of developing certain cancers, such as colorectal cancer.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a divisional of U.S. application Ser. No. 10/485,999, filed Jul. 14, 2004, now U.S. Pat. No. 7,485,283 (hereinafter the “'283 patent”), and is co-pending with U.S. application Ser. No. 12/048,728, filed Mar. 14, 2008, which is also a divisional of the '283 patent; the '283 patent in turn claims the benefit of PCT/GB02/03591, filed Aug. 2, 2002; which claims the benefit of Great Britain application serial no. 01189950, dated Aug. 3, 2001, which are all hereby incorporated by reference in their entirety.

SEQUENCE LISTING

The instant application was filed with a formal Sequence Listing submitted electronically as a text file. This text file, which was named “3004-00-2D-2009-09-30-SEQ-LIST ST25.txt”, was created on Sep. 30, 2009, and is 53,365 bytes in size. Its contents are incorporated by reference herein in their entirety.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to inherited variations in genes believed to be involved in base excision repair (BER) pathways of humans; to their use in screening patients for defects in BER and thereby for cancers or predisposition to cancers. The invention further relates to screening methods using the variations, and to a diagnostic kit for use in the screening methods.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

BER pathways play a major role in the repair of mutations caused by reactive oxygen species that are generated during aerobic metabolism, as described in Nature 362, 709-715 (1993). Oxidative DNA damage has been implicated in the aetiology of degenerative diseases, ageing and cancer (Mutat. Res. 250, 3116 (1991), but evidence linking inherited deficiencies of BER to these diseases has been lacking.

8-Oxo-7,8-dihydrodeoxyguanine (8-oxoG), the most stable product of oxidative DNA damage, is highly mutagenic, since it readily mispairs with A residues (Nature 349, 431-434 (1991)), leading to an increased frequency of spontaneous G:C→T:A transversion mutations in repair-deficient bacteria and yeast cells. In E. coli, three enzymes, mutM, mutY and mutT, function synergistically to protect cells from the deleterious effects of guanine oxidation (J. Bacteriol. 174, 6321-6325 (1992)). The mutM DNA glycosylase removes the oxidised base from 8-oxoG:C base pairs in duplex DNA; the mutY DNA glycosylase excises A misincorporated opposite unrepaired 8-oxoG during replication; and mutT is an 8-oxo-dGTPase preventing incorporation of 8-oxo-dGMP into nascent DNA. Human mutM, mutY and mutT homologues have been identified and termed hOGG1 (Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. (USA) 94, 8016-8020 (1997)), hMYH (J. Bactiol. 178, 3885-3892 (1996)) and hMTH (J. Biol. Chem. 268, 23524-23530 (1993)), respectively. Patent specification no. WO 97/33903 also discloses a human MutY polypeptide and DNA encoding it, together with its potential use in diagnosing a cancer or a susceptibility to a cancer.

Until now, inherited, as distinguished from somatic, defects of BER have not been associated with any human genetic disorder, although mutations of the Escherichia coli BER genes mutM and mutY lead to increased G:C→T:A transversions (Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. (USA) 85, 2709-2713 (1988); J. Bacteriol. 174, 6321-6325 (1992); Mol. Gen. Genet. 239, 72-76 (1993); and Mol. Gen. Genet. 254, 171-178 (1997)).

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

We now provide evidence that inherited defects of human BER genes might also lead to increased spontaneous (somatic, as opposed to hereditary) G:C→T:A transversions in other genes, which control cellular growth and so predispose the individual to cancer. Such other genes include the APC gene, a known tumour suppressor gene for colorectal adenomas and carcinomas. Somatic mutations of APC have been found to occur in most such cancers. Accordingly, we further provide evidence that inherited defects in human BER genes can indicate a predisposition towards cancers in humans.

We studied a family (hereinafter, ‘family N’) having multiple colorectal adenomas and carcinoma, and excluded an inherited mutation of APC as is seen in familial adenomatous polyposis (FAP) (Hum Mol Genet 10 721-733 (2001)). Eleven tumours from three affected siblings contained eighteen somatic APC mutations. Fifteen were G:C→T:A transversions, a significantly greater proportion than reported in sporadic or FAP associated tumours. Analysis of hMYH revealed that the siblings were compound heterozygotes for the non-conservative missense variants, Y165C (an A to G substitution at nucleotide 494 in exon 7) and G382D (a G to A substitution at nucleotide 1145 in exon 13). G382D has been identified (by Shinmura K et al in Cancer Letters 166 65-69 (2001)) in lung cancer samples from the tumour itself; however, it was not identified as an inherited change that might be useful in the detection of predisposition towards lung (or any other) cancer.

These two changes affect residues that are conserved in E. coli mutY, namely, y82 and g253; y82 lies within the pseudo HhH motif and has been predicted to function in mismatch specificity (Nat Struct Biol 5 1058-1064 (1998)). Assays of adenine glycosylase activity of y82c and g253d mutants with a G:A substrate showed 90- and 6-fold reduction compared to wild type.

These data link the inherited variants in hMYH to the pattern of somatic APC mutation in family N and implicate defective BER in tumour predisposition in humans and other animals. Subsequent studies have revealed additional inherited variants in hMYH. Therefore, we have been able to provide the identity of such inherited variants and a screening method for identifying an individual having a pre-disposition towards having a cancer as a result of inherited variants in the genes involved in BER.

The present invention therefore provides a variant of hMYH, suitable for use in a screening method of the invention, comprising a polypeptide variant selected from:

(i) Y165C, as defined herein [SEQ ID NO:1];

(ii) E466X, as defined herein [SEQ ID NO:3]; and

(iii) Y90X, as defined herein [SEQ ID NO:4].

The present invention further provides a nucleotide sequence corresponding to any one of the above polypeptide variations, being a nucleotide sequence encoding the polypeptide variant of this invention. Specifically, the nucleotide sequence encoding the polypeptide variants Y165C (SEQ ID NO:1), E466X (SEQ ID NO:3) and Y90X (SEQ ID NO:4) are defined herein as SEQ ID NO:130, SEQ ID NO:131 and SEQ ID NO:132, respectively.

Accordingly, the present invention further provides a nucleotide sequence

(a) encoding a polypeptide variant according to the invention; (b) a sequence substantially homologous to or that hybridises to sequence (a) under stringent conditions; or (c) a sequence substantially homologous to or that hybridizes under stringent conditions to the sequence (a) or (b) but for the degeneracy of the genetic code; or (d) an oligonucleotide specific for any of the sequences (a), (b) or (c).

Such homologous sequences as are referred to in (b) and (c) also display the functional and biological activity of the variation according to the invention. Preferably, such homologous sequences are at least 90% identical to the sequence (a).

Preferably, there is provided a variant of hMYH, comprising Y165C, or a nucleotide sequence encoding the polypeptide, as defined herein as SEQ ID NO:130.

Such polypeptide and corresponding nucleotide variants are herein collectively referred to as ‘variations according to this invention’.

Accordingly, the present invention provides a method for diagnosing susceptibility to cancer comprising determining, from a sample derived from a patient, a mutation comprising a variation according to this invention. In particular, there is provided a screening method for identifying an individual having a pre-disposition towards having a cancer, which screening method comprises the steps of:

(a) obtaining a test sample comprising a nucleotide sequence comprised in a gene in a base excision repair (BER) pathway of the individual or an amino acid sequence of a polypeptide expressed thereby; and (b) comparing a region of the test sample sequence with the corresponding region of the wild type sequence, whereby a difference between the test sample sequence and the wild type sequence signifies that the individual is pre-disposed to having the cancer; and wherein the difference comprises a variation according to this invention, or the known G382D-hMYH or the nucleotide sequence encoding it.

For example, where the variant polypeptide sequence is Y165C-hMYH, this means the human MYH protein in which the 165^(th) amino acid (Y in the wild type) is replaced by C.

The corresponding difference in the nucleotide sequence means the gene variant, which is the nucleotide sequence coding for the variant polypeptide (protein) sequence. In the case of Y165C-hMYH, the corresponding nucleotide variant is 494A→G-hMYH, which means the human MYH gene in which the 494^(th) base (A in exon 7 in the wild type) is replaced by G, namely SEQ ID NO:130. However, the variant may also comprise the nucleotide sequence encoding the known G382D-hMYH; or the variant may comprise that encoding E466X-hMYH (1396G→T) or Y90X-hMYH (270C→A).

Preferably, the BER pathway gene is hMYH.

Preferably, in the screening method of the invention, the BER pathway gene is involved in the repair of another gene and protects against G:C→T:A transversion mutations in that gene. More preferably, these G:C→T:A transversion mutations occur at regions of the sequence wherein the G is followed by AA in the sequence and therefore comprise GAA→TAA mutations.

The invention therefore further provides an alternative screening method for identifying an individual having an inherited defect in a BER gene and/or hMYH and/or is pre-disposed to having a cancer, which screening method comprises the steps of:

(a) obtaining a test sample comprising a nucleotide sequence comprised in a marker gene of the individual or an amino acid sequence of a polypeptide expressed thereby, the marker gene being a marker for a disease or condition correlated with the presence of a defect in a BER gene and/or hMYH or cancer; and

(b) comparing a region of the test sample sequence with the following diagnostic sequence [SEQ ID NO: 2] or a peptide sequence encoded thereby:

5′-X-X1-A-A-X2-A-A-3′ [SEQ ID NO: 2]

wherein X is A or T; X1 is G or T; and X2 is G or A.

whereby identity between the region of the test sample sequence and the diagnostic sequence signifies that the individual has an inherited defect in a BER gene and/or hMYH and/or is pre-disposed to having the cancer.

Another aspect of the invention is a diagnostic sequence suitable for use in the alternative screening method, which sequence comprises:

(a)

5′-X-X1-A-A-X2-A-A-3′ [SEQ ID NO: 2] wherein X is A or T; X1 is G or T; and X2 is G or A; (b) a sequence substantially homologous to or that hybridises to sequence (a) under stringent conditions; or (c) a sequence substantially homologous to or that hybridizes under stringent conditions to the sequence (a) or (b) but for the degeneracy of the genetic code; or (d) an oligonucleotide specific for any of the sequences (a), (b) or (c).

Accordingly, this invention further provides for the use of:

(a) a diagnostic sequence according to the invention, or a polypeptide encoded thereby, (b) a sequence substantially homologous to or that hybridises to nucleotide sequence (a) under stringent conditions; or (c) a sequence substantially homologous to or that hybridizes under stringent conditions to the nucleotide sequence (a) or (b) but for the degeneracy of the genetic code; or (d) an oligonucleotide specific for any of the sequences (a), (b) or (c)

in a therapeutic, diagnostic or detection method, especially for the determination of susceptibility to a disease, such as cancer.

Especially preferred is when the damaged gene is a known marker for the cancer, such as APC (a marker for bowel cancer).

Therefore, in the screening method according to the invention, the cancer is most preferably bowel cancer and/or the damaged gene is APC.

In accordance with the above findings, the present invention therefore still further provides for use of:

(a) a BER gene variant, or a polypeptide encoded thereby, selected from variants of this invention and the known G382D-hMYH or the nucleotide sequence encoding it; (b) a sequence substantially homologous to or that hybridises to nucleotide sequence (a) under stringent conditions; or (c) a sequence substantially homologous to or that hybridizes under stringent conditions to the nucleotide sequence (a) or (b) but for the degeneracy of the genetic code; or (d) an oligonucleotide specific for any of the sequences (a), (b) or (c) in a therapeutic, diagnostic or detection method.

Preferably, the BER gene is hMYH and therefore a preferred use is of:

(a) a variant of the hMYH gene, or the hMYH polypeptide encoded thereby, selected from variants of this invention and the known G382D-hMYH or the nucleotide sequence encoding it; (b) a sequence substantially homologous to or that hybridises to nucleotide sequence (a) under stringent conditions; or (c) a sequence substantially homologous to or that hybridizes under stringent conditions to the nucleotide sequence (a) or (b) but for the degeneracy of the genetic code; or (d) an oligonucleotide specific for any of the sequences (a), (b) or (c) in a therapeutic, diagnostic or detection method.

A particularly preferred use is when the BER gene and/or hMYH is for the determination of susceptibility to a disease, such as cancer. Especially preferred is wherein the corresponding wild type BER pathway gene or wild type hMYH gene acts to protect against G:C→T:A transverse mutations in a cancer marker gene, such as APC.

The present invention further provides a kit suitable for use in carrying out the screening method of the invention, which kit comprises one or more of:

(a) an oligo- or poly-nucleotide having a nucleic acid sequence corresponding to a region of a variant BER gene, which region incorporates at least one variation from the corresponding wild-type sequence selected from a variation according to this invention; (b) an oligo- or poly-nucleotide having a nucleic acid sequence corresponding to the wild-type sequence in the region specified in (a); and/or (c) one or more reagents suitable for carrying out PCR for amplifying desired regions of the patient's DNA.

A kit suitable for use in carrying out an alternative screening method as described above comprises one or more of:

(a) an oligo- or poly-nucleotide comprising a diagnostic sequence as described herein, or an amino acid sequence encoded thereby; (b) one or more reagents suitable for carrying out PCR for amplifying desired regions of the patient's DNA; and/or (c) a ‘surrogate marker’ that is indicative of or correlated to the presence of a variant of a sequence (a).

Reagents for the kit may include, for example, PCR primers corresponding to the exon of the BER gene, hMYH or a diagnostic sequence according to the invention; and/or primers mentioned herein; and/or other reagents for use in PCR, such as Taq DNA polymerase.

Preferably, any oligonucleotides in the kit comprise in the range of from 5 to 25 base-pairs, such as 10-20 base-pairs for the variant sequences. In any case, the oligonucleotides must be selected so as to be unique for the region selected and not repeated elsewhere in the genome.

Since, in the situation where it is desired to screen for multiple variations, such as in the range of from 15 to 20 or more, a kit comprising up to 40 oligo- or poly-nucleotides or more would be required, in the alternative screening method, therefore, using DNA chip technology, the present invention provides a plurality of oligo- or poly-nucleotides as defined in kit component (a) above immobilised on a solid support.

Other nucleotide detection methods could be used, such as signal amplification methods being pioneered in nanotechnology (such as Q-Dots). Also, single molecule detection methods could be employed (such as STM). In which case, the kit according to this invention may comprise one or more reagents for use in such alternative methods.

Further, suitable, alternative screening methods according to this invention may further comprise obtaining a test sample comprising a BER variant (eg a protein/peptide sequence comprising a variation of hMYH, such as one encoded by a variant of hMYH as identified above) or a peptide sequence encoded by a diagnostic sequence as defined herein that is identifiable by conventional protein sequence methods (including mass spectroscopy, micro-array analysis, pyrosequencing, etc), and/or antibody-based methods of detection (eg ELISA), and carrying out one or more such protein sequencing method(s).

Alternatively, the screening method and corresponding kit according to this invention may be based on one or more so-called ‘surrogate markers’ that are indicative of or correlated to the presence of a variant of a BER gene, hMYH or a diagnostic sequence as defined herein, or the polypeptide encoded thereby, such as proteins/amino acid sequences eg antibodies specific for a BER gene or protein.

Such a “surrogate marker” may therefore comprise:

(a) any biomolecule (including, but not limited to, nucleotides, proteins eg antibodies, sugars, and lipids); (b) a chemical compound (including, but not limited to, drugs, metabolites thereof, and other chemical compounds); and/or (c) a physical characteristic, whose absence, presence, or quantity in an individual is measurable and correlated with the presence of a BER gene variant, hMYH or a diagnostic sequence as defined herein, or a protein encoded thereby.

In which alternative cases, the kit according to this invention may comprise one or more reagents for use in such alternative methods.

It will be evident to the person skilled in the art that, throughout the specification unless the context indicates otherwise, the hMYH gene is classified as an example of a BER pathway gene, but even if hMYH was found to act in an alternative pathway, then the screening methods, kits and uses as described herein in relation to a ‘BER gene’ would nevertheless apply mutatis mutandis to ‘hMYH’.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The basis for the invention will now be described in more detail with reference to the following Examples and Figures, in which:

FIG. 1 shows the pedigree of family N. II.1 and II.2 were found to have approximately 50 macroscopically visible adenomas at 59 and 55 years of age. II.3 died following discovery of a colonic adenocarcinoma and an adjacent adenoma at 46 years of age, but without full assessment of the large bowel. II.4-7 were normal on colonoscopic assessment at between 36 and 49 years of age and III.1-III.5 were normal on colonoscopic assessment at between 24 and 33 years of age. APC haplotypes with the intragenic markers E1317Q, S2497L and the closely linked DP1 (CA)_(n) repeat are shown.

FIG. 2 shows the identification of somatic G:C→T:A mutations of APC in colorectal tumours. Sequences of LD-PCR product clones were aligned. Variants in two or more clones from the same allele (I or II) were confirmed by an independent assay on a fresh PCR product. (a) G>T mutation at position 2602 (E868X) in adenoma A1 confirmed by direct sequencing of standard PCR products. (b) G>T mutation at position 4351 (E1451X) on the second APC allele from adenoma A1 confirmed by direct sequencing of LD-PCR products. (c) G>T mutation at position 3850 (E1284X) in adenoma B5 confirmed by restriction enzyme analysis. Arrows indicate the position of the G:C→T:A mutations on the sequencing gels and the mutant allele on Bfr I cleavage of a PCR product amplified from adenoma B5. M DNA size marker (φ×174 Hae III), −ve wild type control DNA, +ve B5 adenoma DNA.

FIG. 3 shows the identification and segregation of germline hMYH variants in family N. Direct sequencing of constitutional DNA from sibling II:1 revealed (a) an A to G substitution at nucleotide 494 in exon 7 corresponding to Y165C (arrow) and (b) a G to A substitution at nucleotide 1145 in exon 13 corresponding to G382D (arrow). (c) Screening for Y165C by ARMS and G382D by a Bgl II digest revealed that the three affected siblings (filled symbols) were compound heterozygotes for these hMYH missense variants, while normal family members (non-filled symbols) were either heterozygous for one of the variants, or normal. N=normal ARMS reaction, M=mutant ARMS reaction. Arrows indicate the positions of the mutant alleles.

FIG. 4 shows the evolutionary conservation of the variant residues in hMYH. Comparison of the variant residues (a) Y165C and (b) G382D in family N with hMYH homologues from Homo sapiens (H. sap.), Mus musculus (M. mus.), Arabidopsis thaliana (A. tha.), Schizosaccharomyces pombe (S. pom.), Hemophilus influenzae (H. inf.), Vibrio cholerae (V. cho.), Salmonella typhimurium (S. typ.) and E. coli using ClustalW. Arrows indicate the position of the variant residues. Identical, conserved and semi-conserved residues are shaded black, dark grey and light grey respectively. // indicates the position of 18 amino acids in A. tha. that are not present in the other organisms.

FIG. 5 shows representative plots of single turnover adenine glycosylase assays. Wild type, Y82C, and G253D mutY were assayed for glycosylase activity at 2° C. with a 20 nM duplex DNA substrate containing an 8-oxo G:A mismatch and 30 nM mutY (active site concentration). k₂ (min⁻¹)=1.6±0.2 for wild type, 0.26±0.05 for G253D and <0.0006 (estimated) for Y82C. All values represent an average of at least four separate determinations and the error is reported as the standard deviation.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Example 1 General Methods and Protocols Relating to APC Samples

Family N: Nucleic Acid was prepared from venous blood samples and from normal colonic mucosa obtained at surgery, using standard methods. Nine colorectal adenomas were obtained at colonoscopy or surgery and one adenoma and a carcinoma were obtained from archived tissues in paraffin blocks. Histopathology was confirmed by independent review. DNA and RNA were prepared from whole tissues that had been snap frozen or from micro-dissected tissue whose nature had been verified histologically on the same or adjacent sections. Patients with multiple colorectal adenomas: DNA was extracted from venous blood samples from sixteen further unrelated patients with multiple adenomas, with or without co-existing carcinoma. All cases were shown to be normal on sequencing of exon 4 and the alternatively spliced region of exon 9 of APC, mutations in which are associated with AFAP (Hum Mol Genet 10 721-733 (2001). Archived tumour tissue was micro-dissected and DNA extracted using standard methods. Patients with colorectal cancer: DNA was extracted from venous blood samples using standard methods.

Standard and Long Distance (LD-) PCR and Microsatellite Analysis

Exons 1-3 and 5-14 of APC were amplified using published primers (Cell 66, 589-600 (1991)), and exon 4 was amplified using ex4F (5′-TGCAGTCTTTATTAGCATTGTTT-3′ SEQ ID NO:5) and ex4R (5′-TTCAAATAAGTTGTACTGCCAAG-3′ SEQ ID NO:6) which generated a 195 bp product. For DNA extracted from paraffin embedded blocks, exon 15 of APC was amplified as 40 overlapping fragments of 162-285 bp (See Appendix 1, Table 2). Exons 2-15 of β-catenin (Accession Nos. X89579, 13648651) (see Appendix 1, Table 3), 2-11 of p53 (Accession No. U94788) (see Appendix 1, Table 4), 1-16 of hMYH, 1-8 of hOGG1 (Accession Nos. AC066599, AC011610) and 2-5 of hMTH (Accession Nos. D38591-4) were amplified as 18, 11, 16, 11 and 4 fragments, respectively. Standard PCR was carried out in 50 μl reaction volumes containing 100 ng genomic DNA, 25 pmole primers, 0.2 mM dNTPs, 5 μl reaction buffer and 1 U AmpliTaq Gold DNA Polymerase (Applied Biosystems). Cycling parameters were 94° C. 10 mins, followed by 32 cycles of 50-67° C. 1 min, 72° C. 1 min, 94° C. 30 secs, and a final step of 72° C. 10 mins. For DNA extracted from fresh tissue, exon 15 of APC was amplified either as a single 6.67 kb LD-PCR fragment using N15F (1997) 5′-GCAAATCCTAAGAGAGAACAACTGT-3′ (SEQ ID NO:7) and N15R1 (8684) 5′-TCCAGAACAAAAACCCTCTAACAAG-3′ (SEQ ID NO:8), or as two overlapping LD-PCR fragments using N15F (1997) and NS15 4R (5571) 5′-CCTTCAATAGGCGTGTAATG-3′ (SEQ ID NO:9) which generated a 3.59 kb product, and NS15 3F (3649) 5′-AAAGCAGTAAAACCGAACAT-3′ (SEQ ID NO:10) and N15R (8698) 5′-TCAAATATGGCTTCCAGAACAAA-3′ (SEQ ID NO:11) which generated a 5.07 kb product. Exons 10 to 16 of hMYH were amplified as a 3.1 kb LD-PCR fragment using Y10F1L (5′-GCTGATCCCAGCAGCACCCTTGTTT-3′ SEQ ID NO:12) and Y16RL (5′-AATGGGGGCTTTCAGAGGTGTCACT-3′ SEQ ID NO:13). The 50 μl LD-PCR reaction mixes contained 100 ng genomic DNA, 10 pmol primers, 0.35 mM dNTPs, 5 μl reaction buffer 3 and 1.75 U of Expand Long Template DNA Polymerase (Roche). Cycling parameters were 94° C. 2 mins followed by 33-35 cycles of 56° C. 1 min, 68° C. 4-8 mins (+20 secs per cycle, after cycle number 10) and 94° C. 20 secs, and a final elongation step at 68° C. for 4-8 mins. DNA extracted from normal and tumour tissue was tested for MSI using the markers D2S123, BAT 26, BAT 24, Mfd15, DP1(APC), D18S69 and BAT 25.

RT-PCR and Expression Analysis

100 ng-2 μg RNA was used for first strand cDNA synthesis using oligo (dT)₁₅ and Superscript II RNase H⁻ Transcriptase (Invitrogen Life Technologies). Second strand synthesis was carried out in 50 μl reaction volumes using 1 μl cDNA, 25 pmol primers, 0.2 mM dNTPs, 5 μl reaction buffer and 2-5 U AmpliTaq Gold DNA Polymerase. Cycling parameters were 94° C. for 10 mins, followed by 35-40 cycles of 94° C. 1 min, 50-54° C. 1 min, 72° C. 1-3 mins, and a final elongation step at 72° C. for 10 mins. Exons 1-14 of APC were amplified as a 1.958 kb fragment, using the primers previously described (Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. (USA) 94, 2449-2453 (1997)). To determine the expression levels of individual APC alleles, the exon 11 polymorphism Y486 was assayed in recombinant RT-PCR product clones by restriction digestion or sequence analysis. To characterise aberrant splicing associated with the 423-1G>T somatic mutation, exons 3-12 of APC were amplified by RT-PCR using APCFEx3 (5′-GAGGGTTTGTAAATGGAAGCAG-3′ SEQ ID NO:14) and APCjREx11-12 (5′-CTCATGCAGCCTTTCATAGAGC-3′ SEQ ID NO:15), cloned and sequenced. To quantify the expression level of the hMYH allele harbouring G382D, normal colonic mucosa cDNA from sibling II:1 was amplified using rY12F (5′-GTGGTCAACTTCCCCAGAAA-3′ SEQ ID NO:16) and rY14R (5′-GGCCAGCCCATATACTTGAT-3′ SEQ ID NO:17), cloned and assayed with a Bgl II digest.

Sequencing

Standard PCR products were sequenced manually using the ThermoSequenase cycle sequencing kit (Amersham), and analysed on 6% polyacrylamide gels. For automated plasmid based sequencing, standard, LD- and RT-PCR products were purified using the PCR purification kit (Qiagen), cloned into pGEM-T Easy (Promega), and propogated in JM109 E. coli; at least twelve recombinant clones of each product were sequenced. Automated sequencing of RT-PCR product clones spanning exons 1-14 of APC was performed using two overlapping bi-directional sequencing reactions: (1) NS1_(—)14F (39) 5′-ATGGCTGCAGCTTCATATGA-3′ (SEQ ID NO:18) to NS1_(—)14R2 (1049) 5′-GCTGTCTTGGGAGCTAGAC-3′ (SEQ ID NO:19); (2) NS1_(—)14F2 (892) 5′-ACCATGAAACAGCCAGTGT-3′ (SEQ ID NO:20) to NS1_(—)14R (1978) 5′-CTGTGGTCCTCATTTGTAG-3′ (SEQ ID NO:21). Automated sequencing of LD-PCR products and clones spanning exon 15 of APC was performed using eight overlapping bi-directional sequencing reactions: (1) NS15 1F (1997) 5′-GCAAATCCTAAGAGAGAACA-3′ (SEQ ID NO:22) to NS15 8R (3146) 5′-GACTTTGCCTTCCAGAGTTC-3′ (SEQ ID NO:23); (2) NS15 2F (2810) 5′-AAGCTCTGCTGCCCATACACA-3′ (SEQ ID NO:24) to NS15 7R (3935) 5′-CTGCTATTTGCAGGGTATTA-3′ (SEQ ID NO:25); (3) NS15 3F (3649) 5′-AAAGCAGTAAAACCGAACAT-3′ (SEQ ID NO:26) to NS15 3R (4775) 5′-TTGTTGGCATGGCAGAAATA-3′ (SEQ ID NO:27); (4) NS15 4F (4480) 5′-TTCTTCCAGATGCTGATACT-3′ (SEQ ID NO:28) to NS15 4R (5571) 5′-CCTTCAATAGGCGTGTAATG-3′ (SEQ ID NO:29); (5) NS15 5F (5234) 5′-GCCCAAAGGGAAAAGTCACA-3′ (SEQ ID NO:30) to NS15 5R (6346) 5′-ATTTGCACCTTCCTGAATAG-3′ (SEQ ID NO:31); (6) NS15 6F (6015) 5′-CCTGACTCACAGGGAGAAC-3′ (SEQ ID NO:32) to NS15 6R (7135) 5′-CTGTCTACCTGGAGATGTAT-3′ (SEQ ID NO:33); (7) NS15 7F (6807) 5′-GCCTCCAAAAGCCCTAGTGA-3′(SEQ ID NO:34) to NS15 2R (7920) 5′-AGCACCTGAGGAAACGGTCTG-3′ (SEQ ID NO:35); (8) NS15 8F (7552) 5′-GAAAACTCCCACCTAATCTC-3′ (SEQ ID NO:36) to NS15 1R (8684) 5′-AACAAAAACCCTCTAACAAG-3′ (SEQ ID NO:37).

Primer nucleotide numbers in parentheses are cited according to Science 253, 661-5 (1991). Automated sequencing of LD-PCR product clones spanning exons 10-16 of hMYH, RT-PCR product clones spanning exons 3-12 of APC and 12-14 of hMYH, and standard PCR product clones, was performed using M13 forward and reverse primers, as previously described (Hum. Mol. Genet 9, 1119-1129 (2000)). Sequence data for >12 clones was aligned (AlignIR v1.2, Li-Cor) and variants in two or more clones from the same allele were analysed by an independent assay on a fresh PCR product, to confirm that they represented real mutations and were not PCR or cloning induced errors.

Assays for Sequence Variants

In APC: Y486 (1458 C>T) in exon 11 was assayed using an Rsa I digest, as previously described (Cell 66, 589-600 (1991)). E1317Q (3949 G>C) in exon 15 was assayed using a Pvu II digest of a 503 bp PCR product generated using E1317QLF (3652) 5′-GCAGTAAAACCGAACATATG-3′ (SEQ ID NO:38) and E1317QR (4137) 5′-TGGACTTTTGGGTGTCTG-3′ (SEQ ID NO:39); DNA from paraffin embedded blocks was assayed using a 224 bp PCR product generated with E1317QSF (3934) 5′-CTAATACCCTGCAAATAGCA-3′ (SEQ ID NO:40) and E1317QR (4137). A545 (1635 A>G) in exon 13 and T1493 (4479 G>A), A1755 (5265 G>A), S1756 (5268 G>T), and S2497L (7491 C>T) in exon 15, were assayed by sequencing.

The somatic APC mutations E1284X (3850 G>T) and E1317X (3949 G>T) in exon 15 were assayed using a Bfr I digest of PCR products generated with E1317QLF and E1317QR. Somatic APC mutations were assigned to an allele by linking them to one of the polymorphic markers using either standard, RT-, or LD-PCR, followed by cloning and sequencing. The following missense variants in hMYH were assayed in 100 normal control patients: V22M (66 G>A) was assayed using an Nco I digest of exon 2 PCR products. Y165C (494 A>G) in exon 7 was assayed using normal (165N 5′-CGCCGGCCACGAGAATGGT-3′ SEQ ID NO:41) or mutant (165M 5′-CGCCGGCCACGAGAATTGC-3′ SEQ ID NO:42) specific ARMS primers together with the common primer 165C (5′-AGTGCTTCCCTGGAGGTGAGA-3′ SEQ ID NO:43). R260Q (779 G>A) in exon 10 was assayed using normal (260N 5′-CTTGGTTGAAATCTCCTGCCC-3′ SEQ ID NO:44) or mutant (260M 5′-CTTGGTTGAAATCTCCTGACT-3′ SEQ ID NO:45) specific ARMS primers together with the common primer 260C (5′-CGAGCCATTGGTGCTGATC-3′ SEQ ID NO:46). G382D (1145 G>A) was assayed using a Bgl II digest of exon 13 PCR products. S501F (1502 C>T) in exon 16 was assayed using normal (501N 5′-GCTTTTTCCGACTGCACGCAG-3′ SEQ ID NO:47) or mutant (501M 5′-GCTTTTTCCGACTGCACGAAA-3′ SEQ ID NO:48) specific ARMS primers together with the common primer 501C (5′-GCATTCCAGGCTAAGCCTAGC-3′ SEQ ID NO:49). All ARMS reactions incorporated internal control primers (AJ31 and AJ32) to validate the assay. SSCP and dHPLC analysis at the RTm and RTm+2° C., was carried out as described by Jones et al. (Hum. Genet. 106, 663-668 (2000)).

Somatic APC Mutation Database and Statistical Analysis

We reviewed literature reports of characterised somatic APC mutations in colorectal tumours. This included publications cited in the APC mutation database (Nucleic Acids Res. 24, 121-124 (1996)) and publications from the period 1991-2001 identified through a PubMed (www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov) search. Reports of truncating mutations that were inconsistent with the published cDNA sequence (Science 253, 661-5 (1991)) were excluded, as were putative missense mutations since the evidence for their pathogenicity was inconclusive. Data on 503 somatic mutations observed in sporadic tumours and 308 somatic mutations observed in FAP and AFAP associated tumours was retrieved. This included cases of allelic loss, nonsense, frameshift and splice site mutations at invariant GT-AG dinucleotides. Statistical analysis was carried out using Fisher's Exact test.

Site Directed Mutagenesis (SDM) and Assays of mutY Glycosylase Activity

SDM with the primers y82c F (5′-GCGCGCGCGGGCGCAATAGCCAAGCCC-3′ SEQ ID NO:50) and g253d_F (5′-CCGCCCCACAAGTCGCTCGGCGGACGC-3′ SEQ ID NO:51), cloning, expression and purification of wild type and mutant mutY, was carried out as previously described (Nucleic Acids Res. 29, 553-564 (2001)).

To determine the effect of the y82c and g253d mutations on the intrinsic rate of adenine removal compared to wild type, glycosylase assays were performed under single turnover conditions ([DNA]<[MutY]) as described (Biochem. 37, 14756-14764 (1998)) using a 30 bp duplex containing a centrally-located 8-oxo-G:A or G:A base pair. The amount of active protein (wild type 39%, y82c 53%, g253d 58%) was determined using active site titration methods (Biochem 37, 14756-14764 (1998)). The resulting data were fitted to the single exponential equation: [P]_(t)=A_(0[)1−exp(−k_(obs)t)]. Under the conditions used for these experiments, k_(obs) approximates k₂ (Biochem 37, 14756-14764 (1998)).

Example 2 Primers, Conditions and Methods for Amplification and Analysis of the Human BER Genes hMYH, hOGG1 and hMTH (1) Standard PCR

Exons 1-16 of hMYH, 1-8 of hOGG1 (Accession Nos. AC066599, AC011610) and 2-5 of hMTH (Accession Nos. D38591-4) were amplified as 16, 11 and 4 fragments, respectively (Tables 1-3). Standard PCR was carried out in 50 μl reaction volumes containing 100 ng genomic DNA, 25 pmole primers, 0.2 mM dNTPs, 5 μl reaction buffer and 1 U AmpliTaq Gold DNA Polymerase (Applied Biosystems). Cycling parameters were 94° C. 10 mins, followed by 32 cycles of 50-67° C. 1 min, 72° C. 1 min, 94° C. 30 secs, and a final step of 72° C. 10 mins.

TABLE 1 Primers used for the amplification of hMYH Primer SEQ Product Annealing Exon name Sequence NO. size Temp. 1 Y1F 5′-GAAGCTGCGGGAGCTGAAA-3′ 52 133 bp 60° C. Y1R 5′-ATCCCCGACTGCCTGAACC-3′ 53 2 Y2F 5′-CTGCATTTGGCTGGGTCTTT-3′ 54 263 bp 54° C. Y2R 5′-CGCACCTGGCCCTTAGTAAG-3′ 55 3 Y3F 5′-AGCCTGTGCAGGGATGATTG-3′ 56 272 bp 57° C. Y3R 5′-CAACCCCAGATGAGGAGTTAGG-3′ 57 4 Y4F 5′-CTCATCTGGGGTTGCATTGA-3′ 58 167 bp 57° C. Y4R 5′-GGGTTGGCATGAGGACACTG-3′ 59 5 Y5F 5′-GGGCAGGTCAGCAGTGTC-3′ 60 189 bp 57° C. Y5R 5′-TACACCCACCCCAAAGTAGA-3′ 61 6 Y6F 5′-TACTTTGGGGTGGGTGTAGA-3′ 62 185 bp 54° C. Y6R 5′-AAGAGATCACCCGTCAGTCC-3′ 63 7 Y7F 5′-GGGACTGACGGGTGATCTCT-3′ 64 186 bp 54° C. Y7R 5′-TTGGAGTGCAAGACTCAAGATT-3′ 65 8 Y8F 5′-CCAGGAGTCTTGGGTGTCTT-3′ 66 240 bp 57° C. Y8R 5′-AGAGGGGCCAAAGAGTTAGC-3′ 67 9 Y9F 5′-AACTCTTTGGCCCCTCTGTG-3′ 68 196 bp 57° C. Y9R 5′-GAAGGGAACACTGCTGTGAAG-3′ 69 10 Y10F 5′-GTGCTTCAGGGGTGTCTGC-3′ 70 262 bp 57° C. Y10R 5′-TGTCATAGGGCAGAGTCACTCC-3′ 71 11 Y11F 5′-TAAGGAGTGACTCTGCCCTATG-3′ 72 248 bp 54° C. Y11R 5′-GCCAAGAGGGGCTTTAGG-3′ 73 12 Y12F 5′-AGCCCCTCTTGGCTTGAGTA-3′ 74 298 bp 57° C. Y12R 5′-TGCCGATTCCCTCCATTCT-3′ 75 13 Y13F 5′-AGGGCAGTGGCATGAGTAAC-3′ 76 242 bp 57° C. Y13R 5′-GGCTATTCCGCTGCTCACTT-3′ 77 14 Y14F 5′-TTGGCTTTTGAGGCTATATCC-3′ 78 256 bp 54° C. Y14R 5′-CATGTAGGAAACACAAGGAAGTA- 79 15 Y15F 5′-TGAAGTTAAGGGCAGAACACC-3′ 80 205 bp 54° C. Y15R 5′-GTTCACCCAGACATTCGTTAGT-3′ 81 16 Y16F 5′-AGGACAAGGAGAGGATTCTCTG-3′ 82 224 bp 54° C. Y16R 5′-GGAATGGGGGCTTTCAGA-3′ 83

TABLE 2 Primers used for the amplification of hOGG1 Primer SEQ ID Product Annealing Exon name Sequence NO. size Temp. 1 M1F 5′-CTTTGGGCGTCGACGAG-3′ 84 237 bp 57° C. M1R 5′-GAGGGGACAGGCTTCTCAG-3′ 85 2 M2F1 5′-ATTGAGTGCCAGGGTTGTCA-3′ 86 245 bp 57° C. M2R1 5′-CGGAACCCCAGTGGTGATAC-3′ 87 M2F2 5′-TGTACTAGCGGATCAAGTAT-3′ 88 286 bp 50° C. M2R2 5′-TGGCAAAACTGAGTCATAG-3′ 89 3 M3F1 5′-GTCTGGTGTTGCTTTCTCTAAC-3′ 90 229 bp 50° C. M3R1 5′-GTGATGCGGGCGATGTT-3′ 91 M3F2 5′-TCTCCAGGTGTGCGACTGC-3′ 92 275 bp 57° C. M3R2 5′-AGGAAGCCTTGAGAAGGTAACC-3′ 93 4 M4F 5′-GGAAGAACTTGAAGATGCCT-3′ 94 296 bp 55° C. M4R 5′-GCTCATTTCCTGCTCTCC-3′ 95 5 M5F 5′-CCGGCTTTGGGGCTATA-3′ 96 279 bp 57° C. M5R 5′-GTTTCTACCATCCCAGCCCA-3′ 97 6 M6F 5′-TACTTCTGTTGATGGGTCAC-3′ 98 153 bp 55° C. M6R 5′-TGGAGGAGAGGAAACCTAG-3′ 99 7 M7F 5′-ACCTCCCAACACTGTCACTA-3′ 100 265 bp 55° C. M7R 5′-CCCTCCCCAACATGAGA-3′ 101 8 M8F1 5′-CTGTGGCCCACGCACTTGTG-3′ 102 253 bp 57° C. M8R1 5′-ACGTCCTTGGTCCAGCAGTGGT- 103 3′ M8F2 5′-GAGAGGGGATTCACAAGGTG-3′ 104 287 bp 55° C. M8R2 5′-GCCATTAGCTCCAGGCTTAC-3′ 105

TABLE 3 Primers used for the amplification of hMTH Primer SEQ ID Product Annealing Exon Name Sequence NO. size Temp. 2 T2F 5′-GCAAGGACAGAGGGCTTTCTG- 106 249 bp 67° C. 3′ T2R 5′-CCAGCAGGCCATCAACTGAT-3′ 107 3 T3F 5′-GCACGTCATGGCTGACTCT-3′ 108 246 bp 57° C. T3R 5′-CTGGGAAAGCCGGTTCTAT-3′ 109 4 T4F 5′-TCCCTGGGCTGTGTGTAGAT-3′ 110 298 bp 57° C. T4R 5′-GAGATGGGACCCGCATAGT-3′ 111 5 T5F 5′-TGAAGTTTGGGTTGCACCTC-3′ 112 281 bp 57° C. T5R 5′-AGATGGTTTGCGGCTGTTC-3′ 113

(2) Long-Distance (LD-) PCR

Exons 10 to 16 of hMYH were amplified as a 3.1 kb LD-PCR fragment using Y10F1L (5′-GCTGATCCCAGCAGCACCCTTGTTT-3′ SEQ ID NO:114) and Y16RL (5′-AATGGGGGCTTTCAGAGGTGTCACT-3′ SEQ ID NO:115). The 50 μl LD-PCR reaction mixes contained 100 ng genomic DNA, 10 pmol primers, 0.35 mM dNTPs, 5 μl reaction buffer 3 and 1.75 U of Expand Long Template DNA Polymerase (Roche). Cycling parameters were 94° C. 2 mins followed by 33-35 cycles of 56° C. 1 min, 68° C. 4-8 mins (+20 secs per cycle, after cycle number 10) and 94° C. 20 secs, and a final elongation step at 68° C. for 4-8 mins.

(3) RT-PCR and Expression Analysis

100 ng-2 μg RNA was used for first strand cDNA synthesis using oligo (dT)₁₅ and Superscript II RNase H⁻ Transcriptase (Invitrogen Life Technologies). Second strand synthesis was carried out in 50 μl reaction volumes using 1 μl cDNA, 25 pmol primers, 0.2 mM dNTPs, 5 μl reaction buffer and 2-5 U AmpliTaq Gold DNA Polymerase. Cycling parameters were 94° C. for 10 mins, followed by 35-40 cycles of 94° C. 1 min, 50-54° C. 1 min, 72° C. 1-3 mins, and a final elongation step at 72° C. for 10 mins. To quantify the expression level of the hMYH allele harbouring G382D, normal colonic mucosa cDNA from sibling II:1 was amplified using rY12F (5′-GTGGTCAACTTCCCCAGAAA-3′ SEQ ID NO:116) and rY14R (5′-GGCCAGCCCATATACTTGAT-3′ SEQ ID NO:117), cloned and assayed with a Bgl II digest.

(4) Sequencing

Standard PCR products were sequenced manually using the ThermoSequenase cycle sequencing kit (Amersham), and analysed on 6% polyacrylamide gels. For automated plasmid based sequencing, standard, LD- and RT-PCR products were purified using the PCR purification kit (Qiagen), cloned into pGEM-T Easy (Promega), and propogated in JM109 E. coli; at least twelve recombinant clones of each product were sequenced. Automated sequencing of LD-PCR product clones spanning exons 10-16 of hMYH, RT-PCR product clones spanning exons 12-14 of hMYH, and standard PCR product clones, was performed using M13 forward and reverse primers.

(5) Single Strand Conformation Polymorphism (SSCP) and Denaturing High Performance Liquid Chromatography (dHPLC) Analysis

SSCP and dHPLC analysis at the RTm and RTm+2° C., was carried out as previously described (Hum. Genet. 106, 663-668 (2000)).

(6) Assays for Sequence Variants

The missense variants in hMYH were assayed in 100 normal control patients (Table 4). All ARMS reactions incorporated internal control primers (AJ31 and AJ32, Hum. Genet. 106, 663-668 (2000)) to validate the assay.

TABLE 4 Assays for missense variants in hMYH SEQ ID Variant Exon Assay NO. V22M (66 G→A) 2 NcoI digest Y165C (494 A→G) 7 Normal ARMS (165N 5′- 118 CGCCGGCCACGAGAATGGT-3′) Mutant ARMS (165M 5′- 119 CGCCGGCCACGAGAATTGC-3′) Common (165C 5′- 120 AGTGCTTCCCTGGAGGTGAGA- 3′) R260Q (779 G→A) 10 Normal ARMS (260N 5′- 121 CTTGGTTGAAATCTCCTGCCC-3′) Mutant ARMS (260M 5′- 122 CTTGGTTGAAATCTCCTGACT-3′) Common (260C 5′- 123 CGAGCCATTGGTGCTGATC-3′) H324Q (972 C→G) 12 Normal ARMS (324N 5′- 124 CCAGCTCCCAACACTGGAGAC- 3′) Mutant ARMS (324M 5′- 125 CCAGCTCCCAACACTGGAGAG- 3′) Common (324C 5′- 126 CCCAGGCTGTTCCAGAACAC-3′) G382D (1145 G→A) 13 BglII digest S501F (1502 C→T) 16 Normal ARMS (501N 5′- 127 GCTTTTTCCGACTGCACGCAG-3′) Mutant ARMS (501M 5′- 128 GCTTTTTCCGACTGCACGAAA-3′) Common (501C 5′- 129 GCATTCCAGGCTAAGCCTAGC-3′)

Example 3 Investigation of and Data from Family N

As summarised above, and using the methods and materials as described in Examples 1 and 2, we investigated a family N in which three siblings (II:1-3) were affected by multiple colorectal adenomas and carcinoma (FIG. 1). This was a Caucasian family but the method is not limited to any particular ethnic grouping. DNA and RNA extracted from normal colonic mucosa from sibling II:1 and DNA extracted from normal colon tissue embedded within a paraffin block from the deceased sibling II:3, was amplified and sequenced for the 8532 bp open reading frame (ORF) of the APC gene (identification and characterisation of the APC gene is described in Cell 66, 589-600 (1991)).

Five silent base substitutions (1458 C>T [Y486], 1635 A>G [A545], 4479 G>A [T1493], 5265 G>A [A1755] and 5268 G>T [S1756]), and two missense variants (E1317Q and S2497L) were identified, but no clearly pathogenic change was found. Assays of the variants showed that none were present in all three affected siblings and that their shared wild type APC haplotype was also present in five other family members who were phenotypically normal on colonoscopic assessment (FIG. 1). Sequencing of RT-PCR products of exons 1-14 of APC in sibling II:1 confirmed equal expression of both alleles with alternate splicing of exons 9a and 10a, as previously reported and described in Human Mol Genet 10, 735-740 (2001). These data effectively excluded inactivation of APC as the primary inherited defect in family N.

Inherited mutations of the mismatch repair (MMR) genes cause hereditary non-polyposis colorectal cancer (HNPCC) characterised by micro-satellite instability (MSI) in the associated tumours. Assessment for MSI in DNA extracted from each of the available tumours that included five adenomas from sibling II:1, four adenomas from sibling II:2, and one adenoma and one carcinoma from sibling II:3, revealed instability with only one (Mfd15) of the seven markers tested in a single adenoma. This observation, and the multiple adenoma phenotype, provided evidence against the presence of a MMR gene defect in family N.

Since biallelic inactivation of APC occurs in most colorectal adenomas and carcinomas (Hum Mol Genet 10 721-733 (2001)), we sequenced the APC ORF to identify somatic mutations in each of the 11 tumours obtained from family N. Eighteen mutations were characterised, of which 15 were G:C→T:A transversions, including 14 nonsense changes and one splice site mutation (Table 5 and FIG. 2). The three remaining mutations were two C:G→T:A transitions at CpG dinucleotides and a case of allelic loss (Table 6).

TABLE 5 Somatic APC mutations identified in family N No. of Nucleotide Amino acid clones Sequence Sample^(¶) change change (x/y)

{circumflex over ( )} context A1 2602 G > T E868X 2/6 A G AAAAT 4351 G > T E1451X 2/6 A G AAGTA A2 721 G > T E241X NA A G AAGCA 4381 G > T E1461X 2/6 T G AAAAG A3 4717 G > T E1573X 4/5 T G AAATA NI NI A4 423-1 G > T^(#) NA 2/2 NA 4351 G > T E1451X 6/6 A G AAGTA A5 601 G > T E201X NA G G AAGAA 4348 C > T R1450X 3/6 NA B2 3331 G > T E1111X  7/10 A G AAACA LOH LOH NA B4 3586 C > A S1196X 3/7 T G AAAAT 3856 G > T E1286X 4/5 T G AAATA B5 604 G > T E202X 3/6 A G AACAA 3850 G > T E1284X 6/6 T G AAGAT B6 2863 G > T E955X 5/7 A G AATAC 3949 G > T E1317X 4/6 T G AAGAT C2b 1495 C > T R499X 3/6 NA NI NI C1a NI NI NI NI ^(¶)Five adenomas from sibling II:1 (A1-5), four adenomas from sibling II:2 (B2, 4-6), and one adenoma (C2b) and one carcinoma (C1a) from sibling II:3 were analysed for somatic APC mutations. Mutations were described according to the established nomenclature system. Biallelic mutations were proven to be on opposite alleles in all tumours, except A2 and A5. 423-1 G > T^(# )was shown to cause skipping of exon 4 and predicted to terminate the reading frame at the 7^(th) codon of exon 5.

Number of clones, where x represents the number with the mutation and y represents the total number from that allele. In general, mutations were found in only a proportion of clones. Non-mutated clones from the same allele most likely represent contaminating normal tissue. All mutations were confirmed by an independent assay on a fresh PCR product. ^({circumflex over ( )})Sequence context surrounding the coding region G:C→T:A mutations (underlined) (the sequence of the non-transcribed strand is shown except for S1196X in B4). NA = not applicable; NI = not identified.

The carcinoma did not contain any identified APC mutations despite re-sequencing of the ORF in DNA from a second micro-dissected tumour sample. Sequence analysis of the coding regions of β-catenin and p53 in DNA from this carcinoma also failed to identify any somatic mutations, suggesting involvement of an alternative tumourigenic pathway. We compared the proportion of G:C→T:A transversion mutations detected in tumours from family N to a database of 503 reported somatic APC mutations from sporadic colorectal adenomas and carcinomas and 308 somatic mutations from FAP associated tumours. The excess of G:C→T:A transversions in family N was highly significant (15/18 vs. 49/503, P=2.77×10⁻¹² and 15/18 vs. 30/308, P=7.69×10⁻¹² respectively).

To determine if an inherited defect in one of the human BER genes (hOGG1, hMYH or hMTH) was responsible for the pattern of somatic G:C→T:A mutations in family N, DNA extracted from peripheral blood lymphocytes from sibling II:1 was amplified and sequenced for the coding regions of hOGG1, hMYH and hMTH. Two amino acid variants were identified in hMYH, Y165C (an A to G substitution at nucleotide 494 in exon 7) and G382D (a G to A substitution at nucleotide 1145 in exon 13) (FIG. 3). No missense variants or other likely pathogenic changes were identified in hOGG1 or hMTH.

Both hMYH variants were assayed in blood DNA samples from all members of family N and 100 Caucasian control individuals with no history of colorectal adenoma or carcinoma. In family N, the three affected siblings were compound heterozygotes for Y165C and G382D and the unaffected family members were either heterozygous for one of these variants or normal (FIG. 3). Each of the missense variants was also identified once in different normal controls. Since the G to A substitution causing G382D was located at the first base in exon 13, its potential affect on splicing and expression was examined. Only 31 of 100 clones obtained by RT-PCR of normal colonic mucosa total RNA from sibling II:1 harboured the G382D allele, although no aberrant splicing could be detected.

Somatic mutations of hMYH were sought in each of the eleven tumours by dHPLC and SSCP analysis of all exons and by screening for allelic loss by assay of the exon 7 and 13 missense variants. No somatic mutations were identified to suggest that hMYH might function as a tumour suppressor in a manner analogous to the MMR genes in HNPCC (Hum. Mol. Genet. 10, 735-740 (2001)). Neither was there clear evidence for the Y165C or G382D variants being dominant to wild type, since heterozygotes for each were phenotypically normal. Rather, the occurrence of the multiple adenoma phenotype in only the three compound heterozygotes suggested transmission as an autosomal recessive trait.

We then searched for germline mutations of hMYH, hOGG1 and hMTH by sequence analysis of their ORFs in sixteen unrelated patients with between 3 and ˜50 colorectal adenomas, with or without carcinoma. hMYH mutations were also sought by dHPLC analysis of all exons in forty-two unrelated patients with colorectal cancer diagnosed at 40 years of age or less or with a family history of at least one first degree relative also affected by colorectal cancer. Several frequent missense polymorphisms were identified, S326C in hOGG1 (Oncogene 16, 3219-32225 (1998)), and V22M, H324Q (J. Bactiol. 178, 3885-3892 (1996)), and S501F in hMYH, but their allele frequencies were not significantly different in the patient groups compared to 100 unaffected controls. One case, MA12, with three adenomas and a carcinoma, was a compound heterozygote for the unique hMYH missense variant R260Q (779 G>A) and the S501F polymorphism. Analysis of the APC ORF in the four tumours revealed two G:C→T:A transversions producing nonsense changes (E477X and S1344X), two frame-shift mutations and one case of allelic loss. Other family members were not available for study and the limited number of tumours precluded establishing a meaningful pattern of APC mutation.

Comparison of hMYH homologues in bacteria, yeast, plant and mammals revealed identical or similar amino acids at the positions of the non-conservative missense changes identified in family N (FIG. 4). To gain insight into the functional consequences of the missense variants, we assessed the effects of the equivalent E coli mutY mutations, y82c and g253d, on the intrinsic rate of adenine removal from a centrally located 8-oxo-G:A or G:A mismatch in a 30 bp duplex.

The mutant proteins exhibited significantly slower rates of adenine removal than wild type (FIG. 5). The mutant proteins exhibited approximately ninety-fold (Y82C) and six-fold (G253D) slower rates of adenine removal from the G:A substrate at 37° C. (k2 (min-1)=1.6±0.04 for wild type, 0.04±0.01 for Y82C and 0.22±0.04 for G253D). The high affinity of MutY for 8-oxo-G:A substrates results in reaction rates that are too fast at 37° C. to be measured using our manual methods, and therefore the reaction rates with this duplex were analysed at 4° C. (FIG. 5). The G253D enzyme exhibited a 5-fold decreased rate of adenine removal; while the Y82C enzyme was so severely compromised in its catalytic activity that minimal conversion of substrate to product was observed during the time period that was monitored.

The dramatic effect of the y82c mutation is consistent with the findings of structural studies of mutY (Nat Struct Biol 5 1058-1064 (1998)), which locate y82 within the pseudo-HhH motif (79-gxgyya-84) and suggest a role in mismatch specificity and flipping of adenine into the base specificity pocket. The reduction in activity associated with g253d was similar to that observed with a truncated form of mutY that lacked the C-terminal third of the protein (Nucleic Acids Res. 29, 553-564 (2001)). In the colonic mucosa, the activity of the hMYH G382D allele may be further compromised by the reduced expression we noted on RT-PCR analysis.

The activity of mutY on mismatched DNA substrates is influenced by the immediate sequence context, and methylation interference experiments have shown that mutY interacts with purines including the G:A mismatched bases and two bases each side (J Biol Chem 270 23582-23588 (1995)). Examination of the sequence surrounding the 14 coding region G:C→T:A mutations in family N revealed that the two bases immediately 3′ to the mutated G were always AA. Furthermore, 13/14 sites matched three or all bases in a sequence extending one base 5′ (A/T) and three bases 3′ (G/A,A,A) to the mutated GAA (Table 5).

Inherited factors are thought to play a major role in at least 15% of colorectal cancer cases, but established predisposition genes account only for a minority of these (Cell 87, 159-170 (1996)). The sub-polymorphic frequency of the hMYH variants identified in family N, and the lack of evidence for pathogenic variants in the other multiple adenoma and colorectal cancer cases studied here, suggest that inherited defects of hMYH will prove to be an uncommon cause of colorectal tumour predisposition. The multiple adenoma phenotype in members of family N may reflect the number of somatic mutations required for initiation of adenoma development. Patients with FAP develop hundreds or thousands of adenomas, each requiring only a single somatic APC mutation. The compound heterozygotes in family N may be more comparable to patients with attenuated FAP (AFAP) who develop smaller numbers of adenomas that require two somatic APC mutations for tumour initiation (Nat. Genet. 20, 385-388 (1998)). By contrast, patients with HNPCC develop only one or a few adenomas or carcinomas that require somatic inactivation of a wild type MMR allele and two somatic APC mutations.

Example 4 Investigation of and Data from Seven Unrelated Patients

This example describes the identification of seven further, unrelated patients having multiple colo-rectal adenomas and biallelic germline MYH mutations, including four cases homozygous for truncating mutations. Colo-rectal tumours from these individuals exhibit a significant excess of somatic G:C→T:A mutations, as compared to sporadic and FAP-associated tumours, confirming that biallelic mutations in MYH predispose to CRC.

Methods Samples

Seventeen unrelated cases of British descent and four unrelated cases of Indian or Pakistani descent, each having multiple colo-rectal adenomas and/or carcinoma were analysed. DNA was prepared from venous blood samples, and from adenoma and carcinoma tissue from colon that had been micro-dissected from paraffin blocks. The nature of all tissues was verified histologically.

PCR Amplification

Exons 4 and 9 of APC, 1-16 of MYH, 1-8 of OGG1 and 2-5 of MTH1 as 2, 16, 11 and 4 fragments, were amplified as previously described (Al-Tassan et al, Nat Genet 30 227-232 (2002)). A ˜2.8 kb segment of APC (between codons 653 and 1589) was amplified, which encompassed the somatic mutation cluster region, as eighteen overlapping fragments. Primer sequences are presented in Appendix 1.

Denaturing High Performance Liquid Chromatography (dHPLC) Analysis and Fraction Collection

dHPLC was carried out using the 3500HT WAVE nucleic acid fragment analysis system (Transgenomic Ltd, Crewe Hall Weston Road, Crewe CW1 6UZ, UK). To enhance the formation of heteroduplexes prior to analysis, the PCR products were denatured at 94° C. and re-annealed by cooling to 50° C. at a rate of 1° C. per minute. dHPLC was carried out at the melting temperatures predicted by Wavemaker (version 4.1) software (Transgenomic) with a 12% acetonitrile (ACN) gradient over 3 minutes. Samples displaying aberrant dHPLC elution profiles were sequenced directly; those samples without clear sequence variations were re-analysed by isolating and sequencing dHPLC separated heteroduplexes. Fraction collection of heteroduplexes was carried out using a Transgenomic FCW-200 in-line fragment collector and products were eluted in 8% CAN.

Automated Sequencing

Amplification products were purified using the PCR purification kit (Qiagen, 28159 Avenue Stanford, Valencia, Calif. 91355, USA) and automated sequencing was carried out using the Big Dye Terminator Cycle Sequencing kit (Applied Biosystems [ABI], Applied Biosystems, 850 Lincoln Center Drive, Foster City, Calif. 94404, USA) according to the manufacturer's instructions. Sequencing reactions were purified by isopropanol precipitation and analysed on an ABI PRISM 3100 Genetic Analyser. Mutations were described according to the established nomenclature system (Antonarakis et al, Hum Mat 11 1-3 (1998)).

Assays for Sequence Variants

All germline mutations in MYH and somatic mutations in APC were confirmed by sequencing two independent PCR products and/or dHPLC separated heteroduplexes, in forward and/or reverse directions. The germline mutations Y90X, G382D and E466X in MYH were further confirmed by restriction enzyme digestion (using RsaI, BglII and ApoI, respectively). The common polymorphism 972 C>G (H324Q) in exon 12 of MYH was assayed by sequencing.

Somatic APC Mutation Database and Statistical Analysis

A database of 503 somatic mutations observed in sporadic colo-rectal tumours, and 308 somatic mutations observed in FAP and AFAP associated colo-rectal tumours was compiled (Al-Tassan et al Nat Genet 30 227-232 (2002) and Example 1). Statistical analyses were carried out using Fisher's Exact and the chi-squared tests.

Results Biallelic Germline Mutations in MYH

No germline APC truncating mutations were identified. Sequencing of the entire open reading frame (ORF) of MYH in these cases revealed seven patients with biallelic mutations (Table 6), six of which were presumed to be homozygous for MYH variants since no wild type allele could be detected upon sequence analysis.

One Pakistani case (MA27) was homozygous for the exon 3 nonsense mutation Y90X (270 C>A); two British cases (MA22 and MA34) were homozygous for the exon 7 missense mutation Y165C (494 A>G); one British case (MA25) was compound heterozygous for Y165C/G382D (1145 G>A); and three Indian cases (MA20, MA24 and MA26) were homozygous for the exon 14 nonsense mutation E466X (1396 G>T). No samples were available from any of the parents of these patients, all of whom were unaffected, or any other family members. No patients carried single mutant MYH alleles.

The recurrent MYH variants Y90X (2 mutations) and Y165C (5 mutations) were found in association with the G allele of the exon 12 polymorphism 972 C>G (H324Q), and the recurrent variant E466X (6 mutations) was always found in association with the C allele. Sequencing of the entire ORFs of OGG1 and MTH1 in the fourteen MYH negative cases did not identify any likely pathogenic changes.

TABLE 6 Biallelic germline MYH mutations in patients with multiple colo-rectal adenomas Amino Nucleotide Acid Ethnic Patient Exon Change Change Background MA27 3  270 C > A Y90X Pakistani 3  270 C > A Y90X MA22 7  494 A > G Y165C British 7  494 A > G Y165C MA34 7  494 A > G Y165C British 7  494 A > G Y165C MA25 7  494 A > G Y165C British 13 1145 G > A G382D MA20 14 1396 G > T E466X Indian 14 1396 G > T E466X MA24 14 1396 G > T E466X Indian 14 1396 G > T E466X MA26 14 1396 G > T E466X Indian 14 1396 G > T E466X

Identification of Somatic G:C→T:A Mutations in Colo-Rectal Tumours

Using denaturing high performance liquid chromatography (dHPLC) analysis, we sought somatic mutations in the APC gene in colo-rectal tumours isolated from the patients with biallelic germline MYH mutations.

A region of APC was screened, spanning codons 653 to 1589 which encompassed the mutation cluster region (MCR, codons 1286 to 1513, Miyoshi et al, Hum Mol Genet 1 229-233 (1992)), a known hotspot for somatic mutations (Fearnhead et al, Hum Mol Genet 10 721-733 (2001)). In total, 50 somatic mutations were identified of which 49 were G:C→T:A transversion mutations.

The proportion of somatic G:C→T:A transversion mutations in APC that were detected in colo-rectal tumours from patients with biallelic MYH mutations were compared to a database of 503 reported somatic APC mutations from sporadic colo-rectal adenomas and carcinomas, and 308 somatic mutations from FAP associated colo-rectal tumours. The excess of somatic G:C→T:A transversions in patients with biallelic MYH mutations was highly significant.

Sequence Surrounding the Somatic G:C→T:A Mutations

Examination of the sequence context surrounding the somatic G:C→T:A mutations revealed that the two bases immediately 3′ to the mutated G were always AA, irrespective of the nature of the germline MYH mutations. The preponderance of G:C→T:A mutations at GAA sequences is highly significant, since other sequences that could undergo G:C→T:A mutation to stop codons are equally prevalent in the APC coding region (216 GAA sites vs 213 non-GAA sites, χ²=13.28, P=2.7×10⁻⁴).

CONCLUSIONS

In this study, another patient compound heterozygous for Y165C/G382D and two patients homozygous for Y165C have been identified. More significantly, four unrelated patients homozygous for nonsense mutations in MYH have been identified. Homozygosity for MYH variants (as opposed to a point mutation on one allele and a large deletion on the other allele) is considered highly likely, since one of the six patients was shown to be from a family with known consanguinity, and four patients were from Indian families, which are known to have a high frequency of first and second cousin marriages. None of the patients harboured truncating mutations in exon 4 or the alternatively spliced region of exon 9 of APC, which would have been consistent with AFAP, and none of the parents who carried single mutant MYH alleles, showed signs of CRC. Therefore, these data unequivocally confirm that biallelic inactivation of MYH predisposes to colo-rectal adenoma and carcinoma.

The recurrent mutations Y90X, Y165C and E466X cannot be readily explained in terms of the well characterised mechanisms of hypermutagenesis, and are associated with specific (and different) alleles of the polymorphism 972 C>G in exon 12 of MYH. These mutations are therefore probably not independent mutational events, but derived from the same ancestoral chromosomes. In total, four British families that are either homozygous for Y165C or compound heterozygous for Y165C/G382D, three Indian families that are homozygous for E466X and a single Indian or Pakistani family that is homozygous for Y90X have been identified. Different mutations in MYH may therefore be more frequent in different ethnic populations, consistent with founder effects, and diagnostic screening strategies may have to be optimised accordingly.

In this study, an unusually high frequency of somatic G:C→T:A mutations was observed in colo-rectal tumours from patients with biallelic MYH mutations, and this confirms the pathogenicity of the germline variants.

Together with the earlier study, likely pathogenic variants in the BER genes OGG1 or MTH1 have not been detected in over thirty cases with multiple colo-rectal adenoma and carcinoma.

In conclusion, the above Example provides evidence for a novel autosomal recessive colo-rectal tumour pre-disposition syndrome, and this is the first reported inherited disorder of base excision repair in humans.

APPENDIX 1

TABLE 1 Primers used for the amplification of exon 4 of APC. Primer SEQ ID name Sequence NO. ex4F 5′-TGCAGTCTTTATTAGCATTGTTT-3′ 5 ex4R 5′-TTCAAATAAGTTGTACTGCCAAG-3′ 6

TABLE 2 Primers used for the amplification of exon 15 of APC for DNA extracted from paraffin embedded tissue. The nucleotide numbers in the primer names are cited according to Accession number NM_000038 (Kinzler et al. 1991, Josyln et al. 1991). All primers were used at an annealing temperature of 50° C.. SEQ Product Primer name Sequence ID NO. size APCintron14F1 5′-CTTCTATCCTTTTATTTGCTTGTT-3′ 133 232 bp APC2136R1 5′-GCTAACTGCCCCCATGTC-3′ 134 APC2113F2 5′-CTAAAGACCAGGAAGCATTATG-3′ 135 281 bp APC2375R2 5′-ATGAGATGCCTTGGGACTT-3′ 136 APC2327F3 5′-ATTAGATGCTCAGCACTTATCAGA-3′ 137 221 bp APC2526R3 5′-ATGAAGAGGAGCTGGGTAACAC-3′ 138 APC2486F4 5′-TGGCAACATGACTGTCCTTTCA-3′ 139 242 bp APC2706R4 5′-TGGCTGACACTTCTTCCATGAC-3′ 140 APC2657F5 5′-TTCAAAGCGAGGTTTGCAGATC-3′ 141 177 bp APC2812R5 5′-GAATGTGTATGGGCAGCAGAGC-3′ 142 APC2785F6 5′-CAGATGAGAGAAATGCACTTAGAA-3′ 143 204 bp APC2968R6 5′-CAATCGAGGGTTTCATTTGAC-3′ 144 APC2884F7 5′-TGCCTTATGCCAAATTAGAATA-3′ 145 162 bp APC3027R7 5′-CGGCTGGGTATTGACCATA-3′ 146 162 bp APC2968F8 5′-GTCAAATGAAACCCTCGATTGA-3′ 147 195 bp APC3141R8 5′-TTTGCCTTCCAGAGTTCAACTG-3′ 148 APC3047F9 5′-CCTAGCCCATAAAATACATAGTGC-3′ 149 212 bp APC3235R9 5′-TTGTACTTTGATTCCTTGATTGTC-3′ 150 APC3182F10 5′-ATGGGCAAGACCCAAACACATA-3′ 151 204 bp APC3363R10 5′-CCCACTCGATTTGTTTCTGAACC-3′ 152 APC3332F11 5′-TGTTTCTCCATACAGGTCACG-3′ 153 240 bp APC3551R11 5′-TCAATAGGCTGATCCACATGA-3′ 154 APC3460F12 5′-CCAATTATAGTGAACGTTACTCTG-3′ 155 247 bp APC3686R12 5′-GATGAAGGTGTGGACGTATTC-3′ 156 APC3648F13 5′-CAAAGCAGTAAAACCGAACAT-3′ 157 277 bp APC3903R13 5′-CTTCCTGTGTCGTCTGATTACA-3′ 158 APC3871F14 5′-CATCTTTGTCATCAGCTGAAGA-3′ 159 263 bp APC4114R14 5′-ACCACTTTTGGAGGGAGATT-3′ 160 APC4001F15 5′-CGAAGTTCCAGCAGTGTCAC-3′ 161 245 bp APC4227R15 5′-TGGCAATCGAACGACTCTC-3′ 162 APC4167F16 5′-GTTCAGGAGACCCCACTCAT-3′ 163 260 bp APC4405R16 5′-CTCTTTTCAGCAGTAGGTGCTT-3′ 164 APC4379F17 5′-AACCAAGCGAGAAGTACCTAA-3′ 165 275 bp APC4633R17 5′-ATTCTGTTTCATTCCCATTGT-3′ 166 APC4540F18 5′-CTTGTTCATCCAGCCTGAGT-3′ 167 265 bp APC4786R18 5′-CGTGATGACTTTGTTGGCA-3′ 168 APC4658F19 5′-GCAGCCTAAAGAATCAAATGA-3′ 169 258 bp APC4895R19 5′-GGTTGCAACCTGTTTTGTGAT-3′ 170 APC4850F27 5′-TGTGGCAAGGAAACCAAGTC-3′ 171 273 bp APC5100R27 5′-CTGCCTTCTGTAGGAATGGTATC-3′ 172 APC5067F28 5′-GGAGGAGCACAGTCAGGTGA-3′ 173 245 bp APC5292R28 5′-GAAGACGACGCAGATGCTTG-3′ 174 APC5251F29 5′-ACAAGCCTTTCCGTGTGA-3′ 175 217 bp APC5445R29 5′-TCTTTGTTGTCTGAGAAAACTCT-3′ 176 APC5344F30 5′-AAAAGAAACCAACTTCACCAGT-3′ 177 248 bp APC5571R30 5′-TCCTTCAATAGGCGTGTAATG-3′ 178 APC5550F31 5′-TTTGCTTTTGATTCACCTCA-3′ 179 262 bp APC5791R31 5′-GTTTAGGCTGACCTCGATTTA-3′ 180 APC5709F32 5′-GAGGCTAAAGTTACCAGCCAC-3′ 181 266 bp APC5953R32 5′-TTTTCTTGGTCAATGTCACTGA-3′ 182 APC5911F33 5′-ATACTCCAGTTTGCTTTTCTCAT-3′ 183 244 bp APC6133R33 5′-AACAGGTCATCTTCAGAGTCAA-3′ 184 APC6049F34 5′-CATCAGGCTATGCTCCTAAAT-3′ 185 279 bp APC6307R34 5′-CTGAATCAGGGGATAGACCAT-3′ 186 APC6239F35 5′-TATGGGTGGCATATTAGGTGA-3′ 187 246 bp APC6465R35 5′-TGAAATGGTGATCCCAGAGA-3′ 188 APC6414F36 5′-AGACAAGCTTCGTCTGATTCA-3′ 189 264 bp APC6658R36 5′-CATTTGGCCTGAAATTTCTG-3′ 190 APC6527F37 5′-AGGCCCACGAATTCTAAAA-3′ 191 247 bp APC6751R37 5′-AGGACTTGTACTTGAGGAGCTAT-3′ 192 APC6726F38 5′-ATGATTCATATTCCAGGAGTTCG-3′ 193 261 bp APC6970R38 5′-TGGTTGCTGGGCAGGTC-3′ 194 APC6942F39 5′-TCAGGATCTAGAGATTCGACCC-3′ 195 220 bp APC7141R39 5′-GGCTCATCTGTCTACCTGGAG-3′ 196 APC7100F40 5′-TTCAACTAAGTCCTCAGGTTCT-3′ 197 269 bp APC7348R40 5′-TGAAAGTTGACTGGCGTACTA-3′ 198 APC7309F41 5′-CAAGTGGAAGTGAATCTGATAGA-3′ 199 240 bp APC7531R41 5′-ATCCACCAGCCTGAACAG-3′ 200 APC7463F42 5′-TAGGTCCCAGGCACAAACTC-3′ 201 262 bp APC7705R42 5′-GCTTACTCGAGGAAGGGATG-3′ 202 APC7683F43 5′-CGTGAGCACAGCAAACATTC-3′ 203 256 bp APC7920R43 5′-CACCTGAGGAAACGGTCTG-3′ 204 APC7852F44 5′-AAGTATCCGCAAAAGGAACAT-3′ 205 238 bp APC8072R44 5′-TCAATCACCGGGGGAGTA-3′ 206 APC8025F45 5′-GACTGTCCCATTAACAATCCTAG-3′ 207 238 bp APC8241R45 5′-GTCCTGGTTTTATCTCAGTTCC-3′ 208 APC8165F46 5′-CAGTGTTCCCATGCGTACC-3′ 209 263 bp APC8407R46 5′-TATCTGCGCTGCTTTTCCTAG-3′ 210 APC8371F47 5′-CTGCCAGAGTGACTCCTTTT-3′ 211 285 bp APC8632R47 5′-TCTTTTAAAGTTTCATTTGAAACA-3′ 212

TABLE 3 Primers used for the amplification of CTNNB1. All primers were used at an annealing temperature of 50° C. SEQ ID Product Exon Name Primer sequence NO. size 2 b cat2F 5′-AGGTCTGCGTTTCACTAACCT-3′ 213 244 bp b cat2R 5′-AGCCCCAATTCAGTAACTAAAG-3′ 214 3 b cat3F1 5′-CATCTGCTTTCTTGGCTGTC-3′ 215 280 bp b cat3R1 5′-AGGATTGCCTTTACCACTCAG-3′ 216 b cat3F2 5′-GTTAGTCACTGGCAGCAACAG-3′ 217 230 bp b cat3R2 5′-CTCAAAACTGCATTCTGACTTTC-3′ 218 4 b cat4F1 5′-TGCTGAACTGTGGATAGTGAGTG-3′ 219 162 bp b cat4R1 5′-TAGTGGGATGAGCAGCATCAA-3′ 220 b cat4F2 5′-GCTGCTATGTTCCCTGAGACAT-3′ 221 260 bp b cat4R2 5′-TGAGCATTTACTTCAAAGCAGACT- 222 3′ 5 b cat5F1 5′-AGGGGAGTAGTTTCAGAATGTCT-3′ 223 248 bp b cat5R1 5′-GGGAAAGGTTATGCAAGGTC-3′ 224 b cat5F2 5′-AGATGGTGTCTGCTATTGTACGT-3′ 225 227 bp b cat5R2 5′-GCCTCATCAGAAATATTGTGAGT-3′ 226 6 b cat6F 5′-ACTCACAATATTTCTGATGAGGC-3′ 227 289 bp b cat6R 5′-AGGTGTCCAATGCTCCATG-3′ 228 7 b cat7F 5′-AAAATAGGTTGGTAATATGGCTC-3′ 229 271 bp b cat7R 5′-TGCAGATGCTATACACAAGACTC-3′ 230 8 b cat8F 5′-AGGATTGATAGGCACTTCTAGCT-3′ 231 219 bp b cat8R 5′-CAAGCACATACTCATCTTGACTCT-3′ 232 9 b cat9F1 5′-AGAGTCAAGATGAGTATGTGCTTG- 233 218 bp 3′ b cat9R1 5′-CAGTACGCACAAGAGCCTCTA-3′ 234 b cat9F2 5′-ATAAGAACAAGATGATGGTCTGC-3′ 235 270 bp b cat9R2 5′-CAATTCTGCAACAAAGGTAAATT-3′ 236 10 b cat10F 5′-GATTTTGTTGAGTTGTATGCCA-3′ 237 240 bp b cat10R 5′-TTTTAGATAGCCAGGTATCACTG-3′ 238 11 b cat11F 5′-TACGGGGAACTTCGGGTA-3′ 239 263 bp b cat11R 5′-TGGACATAAAACCTAGAACACTTC- 240 3′ 12 b cat12F 5′-GGCTTGCCATGTTTTAGCTT-3′ 241 243 bp b cat12R 5′-ACATCTGCTAAAGGCTTTGGT-3′ 242 13 b cat13F 5′-AAGTCTCAGTTTTTCCTCAAGG-3′ 243 197 bp b cat13R 5′-CCAGATAAATAACTGCTCACATT-3′ 244 14 b cat14F 5′-CCTTGCTTTGTGCATGTTTA-3′ 245 122 bp b cat14R 5′-TGATCTGGAGTTAATCGAGAAA-3′ 246 15 b cat15F 5′-TTTTGTTGACACCCTGACTCTT-3′ 247 286 bp b cat15R 5′-AAAGTATTTTACCCAAACTGGC-3′ 248

TABLE 4 Primers used for the amplification of TP53. Part of exon 4 and all of exons 5-9 were amplified using the primers designed by Dahiya et al. 1996 (Br. J. Cancer 74, 264-268). SEQ Primer ID Product Annealing Exon name Sequence NO. size Temp. 2 P53_2F 5′-CCTCTTGCAGCAGCCAGACT-3′ 249 215 bp 57° C. 5′- P53_2R AGCAGAAAGTCAGTCCCATGAAT- 250 3′ 3 P53_3F 5′-AGCGAAAATTCATGGGACTGA-3′ 251 204 bp 50° C. P53_3R 5′-TCCGGGGACAGCATCAAAT-3′ 252 4 P53_4F1 5′-CTCTTTTCACCCATCTACAGTCC- 253 225 bp 57° C. 3′ P53_4F1 5′-TCTGGGAAGGGACAGAAGAT-3′ 254 10 P53_10F 5′-GTTGCTTTTGATCCGTCATAAA- 255 233 bp 54° C. 3′ P53_10R 5′-AGGAAGGGGCTGAGGTCAC-3′ 256 11 P53_11F 5′-ACCCTCTCACTCATGTGATGTCA- 257 250 bp 50° C. 3′ P53_11R 5′-GTGCTTCTGACGCACACCTATT- 258 3′

TABLE 5 Primers used for the amplification of hMYH SEQ Primer ID Product Annealing Exon name Sequence NO. size Temp. 1 Y1F 5′-GAAGCTGCGGGAGCTGAAA-3′ 52 133 bp 60° C. Y1R 5′-ATCCCCGACTGCCTGAACC-3′ 53 2 Y2F 5′-CTGCATTTGGCTGGGTCTTT-3′ 54 263 bp 54° C. Y2R 5′-CGCACCTGGCCCTTAGTAAG-3′ 55 3 Y3F 5′-AGCCTGTGCAGGGATGATTG-3′ 56 272 bp 57° C. Y3R 5′- 57 CAACCCCAGATGAGGAGTTAGG-3′ 4 Y4F 5′-CTCATCTGGGGTTGCATTGA-3′ 58 167 bp 57° C. Y4R 5′-GGGTTGGCATGAGGACACTG-3′ 59 5 Y5F 5′-GGGCAGGTCAGCAGTGTC-3′ 60 189 bp 57° C. Y5R 5′-TACACCCACCCCAAAGTAGA-3′ 61 6 Y6F 5′-TACTTTGGGGTGGGTGTAGA-3′ 62 185 bp 54° C. Y6R 5′-AAGAGATCACCCGTCAGTCC-3′ 63 7 Y7F 5′-GGGACTGACGGGTGATCTCT-3′ 64 186 bp 54° C. Y7R 5′- 65 TTGGAGTGCAAGACTCAAGATT-3′ 8 Y8F 5′-CCAGGAGTCTTGGGTGTCTT-3′ 66 240 bp 57° C. Y8R 5′-AGAGGGGCCAAAGAGTTAGC-3′ 67 9 Y9F 5′-AACTCTTTGGCCCCTCTGTG-3′ 68 196 bp 57° C. Y9R 5′-GAAGGGAACACTGCTGTGAAG- 69 3′ 10 Y10F 5′-GTGCTTCAGGGGTGTCTGC-3′ 70 262 bp 57° C. Y10R 5′- 71 TGTCATAGGGCAGAGTCACTCC-3′ 11 Y11F 5′-TAAGGAGTGACTCTGCCCTATG- 72 248 bp 54° C. 3′ Y11R 5′-GCCAAGAGGGGCTTTAGG-3′ 73 12 Y12F 5′-AGCCCCTCTTGGCTTGAGTA-3′ 74 298 bp 57° C. Y12R 5′-TGCCGATTCCCTCCATTCT-3′ 75 13 Y13F 5′-AGGGCAGTGGCATGAGTAAC-3′ 76 242 bp 57° C. Y13R 5′-GGCTATTCCGCTGCTCACTT-3′ 77 14 Y14F 5′-TTGGCTTTTGAGGCTATATCC-3′ 78 256 bp 54° C. Y14R 5′- 79 CATGTAGGAAACACAAGGAAGTA- 3′ 15 Y15F 5′-TGAAGTTAAGGGCAGAACACC- 80 205 bp 54° C. 3′ Y15R 5′-GTTCACCCAGACATTCGTTAGT- 81 3′ 16 Y16F 5′- 82 224 bp 54° C. AGGACAAGGAGAGGATTCTCTG-3′ Y16R 5′-GGAATGGGGGCTTTCAGA-3′ 83

TABLE 6 Primers used for the amplification of hOGG1 Primer SEQ ID Product Annealing Exon name Sequence NO. size Temp. 1 M1F 5′-CTTTGGGCGTCGACGAG-3′ 84 237 bp 57° C. M1R 5′-GAGGGGACAGGCTTCTCAG-3′ 85 2 M2F1 5′-ATTGAGTGCCAGGGTTGTCA-3′ 86 245 bp 57° C. M2R1 5′-CGGAACCCCAGTGGTGATAC-3′ 87 M2F2 5′-TGTACTAGCGGATCAAGTAT-3′ 88 286 bp 50° C. M2R2 5′-TGGCAAAACTGAGTCATAG-3′ 89 3 M3F1 5′-GTCTGGTGTTGCTTTCTCTAAC- 90 229 bp 50° C. 3′ M3R1 5′-GTGATGCGGGCGATGTT-3′ 91 M3F2 5′-TCTCCAGGTGTGCGACTGC-3′ 92 275 bp 57° C. M3R2 5′- 93 AGGAAGCCTTGAGAAGGTAACC- 3′ 4 M4F 5′-GGAAGAACTTGAAGATGCCT-3′ 94 296 bp 55° C. M4R 5′-GCTCATTTCCTGCTCTCC-3′ 95 5 M5F 5′-CCGGCTTTGGGGCTATA-3′ 96 279 bp 57° C. M5R 5′-GTTTCTACCATCCCAGCCCA-3′ 97 6 M6F 5′-TACTTCTGTTGATGGGTCAC-3′ 98 153 bp 55° C. M6R 5′-TGGAGGAGAGGAAACCTAG-3′ 99 7 M7F 5′-ACCTCCCAACACTGTCACTA-3′ 100 265 bp 55° C. M7R 5′-CCCTCCCCAACATGAGA-3′ 101 8 M8F1 5′-CTGTGGCCCACGCACTTGTG-3′ 102 253 bp 57° C. M8R1 5′-ACGTCCTTGGTCCAGCAGTGGT- 103 3′ M8F2 5′-GAGAGGGGATTCACAAGGTG-3′ 104 287 bp 55° C. M8R2 5′-GCCATTAGCTCCAGGCTTAC-3′ 105

TABLE 7 Primers used for the amplification of hMTH SEQ Primer ID Product Annealing Exon Name Sequence NO. size Temp. 2 T2F 5′-GCAAGGACAGAGGGCTTTCTG-3′ 106 249 67° C. T2R 5′-CCAGCAGGCCATCAACTGAT-3′ 107 bp 3 T3F 5′-GCACGTCATGGCTGACTCT-3′ 108 246 57° C. T3R 5′-CTGGGAAAGCCGGTTCTAT-3′ 109 bp 4 T4F 5′-TCCCTGGGCTGTGTGTAGAT-3′ 110 298 57° C. T4R 5′-GAGATGGGACCCGCATAGT-3′ 111 bp 5 T5F 5′-TGAAGTTTGGGTTGCACCTC-3′ 112 281 57° C. T5R 5′-AGATGGTTTGCGGCTGTTC-3′ 113 bp

TABLE 8 LD-PCR primers used for the amplification of exon 15 of APC for DNA extracted from fresh tissue. Primer nucleotide numbers in parentheses are cited according to Accession No. NM_000038. SEQ ID Product Primer name Sequence NO. Size N15F (1997) 5′-GCAAATCCTAAGAGAGAACAACTGT-3′ 7 6.67 kb N15R1 (8684) 5′-TCCAGAACAAAAACCCTCTAACAAG-3′ 8 N15F (1997) 5′-GCAAATCCTAAGAGAGAACAACTGT-3′ 7 3.59 kb NS15 4R (5571) 5′-CCTTCAATAGGCGTGTAATG-3′ 9 NS15 3F (3649) 5′-AAAGCAGTAAAACCGAACAT-3′ 10 5.07 kb N15R (8698) 5′-TCAAATATGGCTTCCAGAACAAA-3′ 11

TABLE 9 LD-PCR primers used for the amplification of exons 10 to 16 of hMYH. SEQ Primer ID Product name Sequence NO. Size Y10F1L 5′-GCTGATCCCAGCAGCACCCTTGTTT-3′ 12 3.1 kb Y16RL 5′-AATGGGGGCTTTCAGAGGTGTCACT-3′ 13

TABLE 10 Primers used for RT-PCR analysis. Region Primer SEQ ID amplified name Sequence NO. Exons 3-12 APCFEx3 5′-GAGGGTTTGTAAATGGAAGCAG-3′ 14 of APC APCjREx11-12 5′-CTCATGCAGCCTTTCATAGAGC-3′ 15 Exons 12-14 rY12F 5′-GTGGTCAACTTCCCCAGAAA-3′ 16 of Hmyh Exons 12-14 rY14R 5′-GGCCAGCCCATATACTTGAT-3′ 17 of hMYH

TABLE 11 Bi-directional sequencing reactions for automated sequencing of RT-PCR product clones spanning exons 1-14 of APC. SEQ ID Reaction Primer name Sequence NO. 1 NS1_14F (39) 5′-ATGGCTGCAGCTTCATATGA-3′ 18 NS1_14R2 5′-GCTGTCTTGGGAGCTAGAC-3′ 19 (1049) 2 NS1_14F2 5′-ACCATGAAACAGCCAGTGT-3′ 20 (892) NS1_14R 5′-CTGTGGTCCTCATTTGTAG-3′ 21 (1978)

TABLE 12 Bi-directional sequencing reactions for automated sequencing of LD-PCR products and clones spanning exon 15 of APC. SEQ ID Reaction Primer name Sequence NO. 1 NS15 1F 5′-GCAAATCCTAAGAGAGAACA-3′ 22 (1997) NS15 8R 5′-GACTTTGCCTTCCAGAGTTC-3′ 23 (3146) 2 NS15 2F 5′-AAGCTCTGCTGCCCATACACA-3′ 24 (2810) NS15 7R 5′-CTGCTATTTGCAGGGTATTA-3′ 25 (3935) 3 NS15 3F 5′-AAAGCAGTAAAACCGAACAT-3′ 26 (3649) NS15 3R 5′-TTGTTGGCATGGCAGAAATA-3′ 27 (4775) 4 NS15 4F 5′-TTCTTCCAGATGCTGATACT-3′ 28 (4480) NS15 4R 5′-CCTTCAATAGGCGTGTAATG-3′ 29 (5571) 5 NS15 5F 5′-GCCCAAAGGGAAAAGTCACA-3′ 30 (5234) NS15 5R 5′-ATTTGCACCTTCCTGAATAG-3′ 31 (6346) 6 NS15 6F 5′-CCTGACTCACAGGGAGAAC-3′ 32 (6015) NS15 6R 5′-CTGTCTACCTGGAGATGTAT-3′ 33 (7135) 7 NS15 7F 5′-GCCTCCAAAAGCCCTAGTGA-3′ 34 (6807) NS15 2R 5′-AGCACCTGAGGAAACGGTCTG-3′ 35 (7920) 8 NS15 8F 5′-GAAAACTCCCACCTAATCTC-3′ 36 (7552) NS15 1R 5′-AACAAAAACCCTCTAACAAG-3′ 37 (8684)

TABLE 13 Primers used to assay for E1317Q SEQ ID Primer name Sequence NO. E1317QLF (3652) 5′-GCAGTAAAACCGAACATATG-3′ 38 E1317QR (4137) 5′-TGGACTTTTGGGTGTCTG-3′ 39 E1317QSF (3934) 5′-CTAATACCCTGCAAATAGCA-3′ 40 E1317QR (4137) 5′-TGGACTTTTGGGTGTCTG-3′ 39

TABLE 14 Assays for missense variants in hMYH. All ARMS reactions incorporated internal control primers (AJ31 and AJ32, Jones et al. 2000) to validate the assay. SEQ ID Variant Exon Assay NO. V22M (66 2 NcoI digest G→ A) Y165C 7 Normal ARMS (165N 5′- 41 (494 A→ CGCCGGCCACGAGAATGGT-3′) G) Mutant ARMS (165M 5′- 42 CGCCGGCCACGAGAATTGC-3′) Common (165C 5′-AGTGCTTCCCTGGAGGT 43 GAGA-3′) R260Q 10 Normal ARMS (260N 5′- 44 (779 G→ CTTGGTTGAAATCTCCTGCCC-3′) A) Mutant ARMS (260M 5′- 45 CTTGGTTGAAATCTCCTGACT-3′) Common (260C 5′-CGAGCCATTGGTGCTGA 46 TC-3′) H324Q 12 Normal ARMS (324N 5′- 124 (972 C→ CCAGCTCCCAACACTGGAGAC-3′) G) Mutant ARMS (324M 5′- 125 CCAGCTCCCAACACTGGAGAG-3′) Common (324C 5′-CCCAGGCTGTTCCAGAA 126 CAC-3′) G382D 13 BglII digest (1145 G→ A) S501F 16 Normal ARMS (501N 5′- 47 (1502 C→ GCTTTTTCCGACTGCACGCAG-3′) T) Mutant ARMS (501M 5′- 48 GCTTTTTCCGACTGCACGAAA-3′) Common (501C 5′-GCATTCCAGGCTAAGCC 49 TAGC-3′)

TABLE 15 Primers used for site directed mutagenesis of mutY SEQ Primer ID Mutation name Sequence NO. Y82C Y82C_F 5′-GCGCGCGCGGGCGCAATAGCCAAGCCC- 50 3′ G253D G253D_F 5′-CCGCCCCACAAGTCGCTCGGCGGACGC- 51 3′

APPENDIX 2 Y165C Mutant Sequence

Mutant hMYH sequence: 494 A to G (Y165C) mutant. The mutant codon and amino acid indicated in bold and underlined

(Single letter amino acid sequence (SEQ ID NO. 1) above and cDNA sequence (SEQ ID NO. 130) below).

E466X Mutant Sequence

Mutant hMYH sequence: 1396 G to T (E466X) mutant. The mutant codon and amino acid indicated in bold and underlined

(Single letter amino acid sequence (SEQ ID NO. 3) above and cDNA sequence (SEQ ID NO. 131) below).

Y90X Mutant Sequence

Mutant hMYH sequence: 270 C to A (Y90X) mutant. The mutant codon and amino acid indicated in bold and underlined

(Single letter amino acid sequence (SEQ ID NO. 4) above and cDNA sequence (SEQ ID NO. 132) below). 

1. A method for detecting mutations in an MYH gene of an individual comprising: determining from a sample obtained from the individual whether the individual has a mutation in said MYH gene of the individual resulting in the amino acid variant Y165C.
 2. The method according to claim 1, wherein said mutation is at position
 494. 3. The method according to claim 2, wherein the mutation at position 494 is A→G.
 4. The method according to claim 1, wherein said determining step comprises amplifying, from said sample, said MYH gene, or a portion thereof.
 5. The method according to claim 4, further comprising sequencing the amplified MYH gene, or a portion thereof, of the individual.
 6. The method according to claim 1, wherein if the individual has said mutation, determining whether the individual is homozygous for said mutation.
 7. The method according to claim 1, wherein if the individual has said mutation, determining whether the individual is compound heterozygous for any other mutations.
 8. The method according to claim 1, further comprising identifying an individual with colorectal adenomas or cancer, having at least one family member diagnosed with colorectal cancer, or with an increased risk for colorectal cancer.
 9. The method according to claim 8, wherein said identifying step is performed before or after said determining step.
 10. A method of genotyping, comprising: determining from a sample obtained from an individual identified as (a) diagnosed with colorectal cancer, (b) diagnosed with colorectal adenomas, (c) having at least one family member diagnosed with colorectal cancer, or (d) at an increased risk for colorectal cancer, whether the individual has a nucleotide variant in an MYH gene of the individual that results in the amino acid variant Y165C.
 11. The method according to claim 10, wherein said determining step comprises amplifying, from a sample obtained from the individual, said MYH gene, or a portion thereof.
 12. A method for predicting in an individual the likelihood of developing colorectal cancer, comprising: determining from a sample obtained from the individual whether the individual has a mutation in the MYH gene of the individual resulting in the amino acid variant Y165C, wherein the presence of said mutation is indicative of an increased likelihood of developing colorectal cancer.
 13. The method according to claim 12, further comprising identifying an individual with colorectal adenomas or cancer, having at least one family member diagnosed with colorectal cancer, or with an increased risk for colorectal cancer.
 14. The method according to claim 13, wherein said identifying step is performed before or after said determining step.
 15. The method according to claim 12, wherein said determining step comprises amplifying, from said sample, said MYH gene, or a portion thereof.
 16. The method according to claim 15, further comprising sequencing the amplified MYH gene, or a portion thereof, of the individual.
 17. The method according to claim 12, wherein if the individual has said mutation, determining whether the individual is homozygous for said mutation.
 18. The method according to claim 1, wherein if the individual has said mutation, determining whether the individual is compound heterozygous for any other mutations.
 19. The method according to claim 12, further comprising: determining whether the individual has a mutation in a gene, other than the MYH gene, associated with familial adenomatous polyposis (FAP), attenuated FAP (AFAP), or hereditary non-polyposis colorectal cancer (HNPCC) syndrome.
 20. The method according to claim 19, wherein said second gene is the APC gene. 